I have been a firefighter/medic for 14 years and am currently working on my RN through Excelsior. I wanted to ask if there are any other firefighters out there who have done this and how do you like it?
I hope to work part-time or PRN at a level 1 trauma center. I was curious as to what experience I would need to gain and where I would need to get it before I would be able to work somewhere like that?
I know that Memorial Herman in Houston has offered emergency room training programs in the past. There is probably a hospital in or near you that is similar. In addition, I know they provide opportunities for emergency room nurses to transfer to flight nursing.
Access to any level 1 trauma center is dependent on attrition so start looking before you get out of school. I am certain your EMT background might be something they would wait for if it is not a long time.
We look forward to having you in nursing. Like your peer said the hours and money will be better.
FireMedic, I am in the same boat. Graduated Yesterday from Excelsior and take my NCLEX next Saturday. I have already spoken with some of the local ERs and may have a part-time gig worked out. I too do not wish to leave the fire service, just improve my knowledge and skills. I have a longer post in the distanct learning section, under graduating today. Give me a yell if you have any questiongs.
Im a firefighter in Paramedic school, and Im also looking at that excelsior course. I am taking a few calsses at my local community college to try and make the transition as easy as possible. Do you by chance have the link for the nursing class still. A buddy of mine on the department is going through it, but works a different staion and I dont see him too often. I would love to do both, we have 3 level 1 trauma centers in my town and I want to work one for the money and experience.
Also if anybody else knows of a school where I can do the distance learning thing an dgo from medic to RN please let me know.
Im a firefighter in Paramedic school, and Im also looking at that excelsior course. I am taking a few calsses at my local community college to try and make the transition as easy as possible. Do you by chance have the link for the nursing class still. A buddy of mine on the department is going through it, but works a different staion and I dont see him too often. I would love to do both, we have 3 level 1 trauma centers in my town and I want to work one for the money and experience.
Also if anybody else knows of a school where I can do the distance learning thing an dgo from medic to RN please let me know.
- Jared -
- Jared -
My advise to you is to go to school for your RN. I was a medic for 8yrs and the transtion was difficult. I have alot of Pt care time and teach for an EMS program. It is easy to be an RN but it is very difficult to be a really good one. I think the extra Pt care time you will get going to school as opposed to a one weekend clinical is priceless, but you do want you want. Just remember there is no easy way to get your RN it all takes hard work. Good Luck
My advise to you is to go to school for your RN. I was a medic for 8yrs and the transtion was difficult. I have alot of Pt care time and teach for an EMS program. It is easy to be an RN but it is very difficult to be a really good one. I think the extra Pt care time you will get going to school as opposed to a one weekend clinical is priceless, but you do want you want. Just remember there is no easy way to get your RN it all takes hard work. Good Luck
Anthony
I'd advise the opposite - I've been a medic for 15 years, the last 10 in supervision/education/administration and made an easy transition. In the last 15 months (after graduation from Excelsior), I've made the jump to charge and do orientation of new nurses. It depends on the person.
Not a FF or Medic, but used to work extensively with them while doing CCT with medics and being on-scene with FF. Can spot one of you professionals a mile away......I'm a SRNA now and visit many of the ICUs in our level 1 hospital several times a day.
There is one place that I think you would be a perfect fit for you, but may be hard to get into ------ A dedicated open heart recovery unit, getting fresh hearts from surgery.
You like seeing very quick results to actions you perform, check.
You like pharm - you got all the gtts you can manage.
Ditto for invasive monitoring. You got all the lines you can handle.
Get to learn alot of vent management and physics behind it.
I think I would fall over dead if I heard a medic or FF say they wanted to go work med/surg after working scene calls and such. No offense meant - just my opinion. FF/medics like seeing instant results to their actions, are very technical and highly skilled at this type of environment, and usually like to learn about pharmacology and monitoring. Ask to shadow one day in a CTICU, I think you'd like what is waiting for you.
Open heart units is where I see most medics and FF who went back to school working, that in addition to the ER and cath lab and they are wonderful additions to these units and most are extremely dedicated / hard workers.
Ditto on the prior. It is the person who makes the nurse. My paramedic background has quickly made me an asset in the ER.
I'd advise the opposite - I've been a medic for 15 years, the last 10 in supervision/education/administration and made an easy transition. In the last 15 months (after graduation from Excelsior), I've made the jump to charge and do orientation of new nurses. It depends on the person.
I have been a firefighter/medic for 14 years and am currently working on my RN through Excelsior. I wanted to ask if there are any other firefighters out there who have done this and how do you like it?
I hope to work part-time or PRN at a level 1 trauma center. I was curious as to what experience I would need to gain and where I would need to get it before I would be able to work somewhere like that?
I think it would be a great job away from the FD.
Any input appreciated :)
How funny that I saw this tonight. My best friend was telling me that a friend of her son's whom we both know, and is a Fireman, is starting his classes for his BSN the 22nd. I said wow, he should get in, as a minority, "male, heterosexual, and wants to be a flight nurse" I thought he was the only firefighter i would ever know who wanted to be a nurse. I'm gonna have to tell him about this post and website. Good luck to you
I'd advise the opposite - I've been a medic for 15 years, the last 10 in supervision/education/administration and made an easy transition. In the last 15 months (after graduation from Excelsior), I've made the jump to charge and do orientation of new nurses. It depends on the person.
Chip
Of course the person makes the RN. My point was that the Pt contact will help make the transition easier. The number of people from the FD around here that don't finish the Excelsior is higher than the number that do. A handful that I know of. (Close to 500 ff in the area) And I still believe the transition from a "street medic" to a hospital RN is a difficult one. I'm very proud of you, but it sounds like you have been in the hopital for sometime That makes a GIANT difference!
Of course the person makes the RN. My point was that the Pt contact will help make the transition easier. The number of people from the FD around here that don't finish the Excelsior is higher than the number that do. A handful that I know of. (Close to 500 ff in the area) And I still believe the transition from a "street medic" to a hospital RN is a difficult one. I'm very proud of you, but it sounds like you have been in the hopital for sometime That makes a GIANT difference!
I came from EMS - limited hospital experience and that was long, long ago, and was a PT gig at another hospital.
EC is what you make of it. You need to be exceptionally motivated to make it through. If you aren't, then you suffer the "I'll do it tomorrow" and "it can wait". Neither will get you through the program.
I made a conscious choice to work in a hospital where no one knew me. I did not drop patients there on a regular basis (perhaps a dozen over ten years?). The services that I work for did not drop patients there. In fact, it's in another state! That really did help as there were no expectations.
I still get frustrated at times. There are times when a Resident will hem and haw about doing something for a patient when I know that if I encountered the patient in the street I would be doing therapy X. But, I've learned to bite my tongue a bit and drag the horse to water...and drown him if he doesn't drink!
GigLs2u
52 Posts
I know that Memorial Herman in Houston has offered emergency room training programs in the past. There is probably a hospital in or near you that is similar. In addition, I know they provide opportunities for emergency room nurses to transfer to flight nursing.
Access to any level 1 trauma center is dependent on attrition so start looking before you get out of school. I am certain your EMT background might be something they would wait for if it is not a long time.
We look forward to having you in nursing. Like your peer said the hours and money will be better.